The World Bank's internal watchdog group on Thursday gave the poverty-fighting agency a mixed review for its efforts to improve health in poor countries and gave it low marks for its work in Africa.(May 1, 2009)

U.S. health data czar sees role for government hand (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Electronic health records need a nudge from the government if the technology is to become widespread, the nation's new health information technology czar said on Thursday.(May 1, 2009)

Mexico's top medical officer voiced optimism Thursday that swine flu has slowed in the nation hardest hit by the virus, but the World Health Organization cautioned there is no evidence the worst of the global outbreak is over.(May 1, 2009)

Mexico's top medical officer voiced optimism Thursday that swine flu has slowed in the nation hardest hit by the virus, but the World Health Organization cautioned there is no evidence the worst of the global outbreak is over.(May 1, 2009)

Teens Smoke Pot to Cope With Stress, Health Problems (Fox News)

Many adolescents who smoke marijuana aren't trying to get high, but are instead using pot as a way to cope with their mental and physical health problems, Canadian researchers report.(May 1, 2009)

Finding Health Insurance for College Students (New York Times)

Coverage under their parents? policy for full-time college students is no longer a given, but there are other ways to make sure a child has adequate health insurance.(May 1, 2009)

Can Congress Make Health-Care Reform Pay for Itself? (Time Magazine)

Though fixing health care promises long-term savings, in the short term it will be costly. Finding the money will be a political challenge(May 1, 2009)

Top Mexican Health Official Faults WHO (CBS News)

A top Mexican medical officer accused the World Health Organization of being slow to respond to the country's warning about a health crisis that turned into a global swine flu scare. The WHO disputed the claim.(May 1, 2009)

Health Highlights: May 1, 2009 (HealthDay via Yahoo! News)

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:(May 1, 2009)

Top Mexican Health Official Faults WHO (CBS News)

A top Mexican medical officer accused the World Health Organization of being slow to respond to the country's warning about a health crisis that turned into a global swine flu scare. The WHO disputed the claim.(May 2, 2009)

A rapidly spreading flu outbreak may quickly overload a U.S. health system already straining from hospital closures, cuts in public health funding, a nursing shortage and too many uninsured patients, health experts said on Friday.(May 2, 2009)

Final Glance: Health Care Equipment companies (AP via Yahoo! Finance)

Shares of some top health care equipment companies were mixed at the close of trading: Becton Dickinson rose $.70 or 1.2 percent, to $61.18.(May 2, 2009)

Hundreds rally for universal health care (Boston Globe)

The contention that "health care is a human right" brought hundreds of people to the Statehouse steps on Friday to demand that Vermont implement universal health care coverage.(May 2, 2009)

County public health departments are the nation's first line of defense against the spread of infectious disease, and the emergency response plans these agencies developed over the past several years are holding up well under the strain of the swine flu...(May 2, 2009)

Private health scans warning (BBC News)

Health charities and government advisers say they have concerns about private medical screening claiming to detect early signs of several diseases.(May 2, 2009)

County health agency isn't crisis-ready (The Arizona Republic)

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health is chronically underfunded and unprepared for a full-fledged public-health emergency. The swine-flu outbreak has tested the agency's ability to respond to a pandemic.(May 2, 2009)

ASU downtown to offer master's in public health (The Arizona Republic)

Arizona State University officials plan to revive a graduate public-health program that would bring as many as 60 additional students to ASU's downtown Phoenix campus.(May 2, 2009)

Florida declares swine-flu health emergency (Orlando Sentinel)

Florida confirmed its first cases of swine flu in two children from Lee and Broward counties Friday and declared a public-health emergency. The schools the two children attend have canceled classes as a precaution.(May 2, 2009)

MONTREAL - Health officials in Quebec have confirmed a new case of swine flu bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Canada to 52.(May 2, 2009)

A Public Health Plan Can Lower Costs, Foster Ideas (Newsweek)

I have baseball on my mind: It is spring, the teams are on the field, the season has begun. It seems to me that winning the health-care debate is a lot like the Chicago Cubs' winning the World Series—it hasn't happened in forever, and some proponents are hearing the same old refrain of "Wait till next year."(May 3, 2009)

Government Can't Solve Our Health Care Problems (Newsweek)

I hear loud and clear from people in my state, and from across the country, what they want to see in health care. They want it to cost less, have the highest quality and see that it extends to all Americans—even when they lose their job or when they're sick. Republicans agree. So do Democrats. Where we disagree is how to get the job done.(May 3, 2009)

Flu outbreak could have started in US: health official (AFP via Yahoo! News)

A US health official on Saturday did not rule out the possibility that the A(H1N1) influenza virus outbreak may have originated in California.(May 3, 2009)

MEXICO CITY -(Dow Jones)- Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said Saturday the number of confirmed cases of people in Mexico infected with a new influenza virus has risen to 473, including 19 people who died.(May 3, 2009)

Are resource-strapped Valley health officials prepared to fight a new flu bug? (The Fresno Bee)

The swine-flu threat couldn't come at a worse time for the central San Joaquin Valley, where public-health workers have struggled for resources in the recession. But they have a plan.(May 3, 2009)

Rally calls attention to health care plight (Peoria Journal Star)

William McNary took hold of the bullhorn. "What do we want?" The crowed replied, "Health care!"(May 3, 2009)

Despite encouraging signs that the swine flu epidemic has leveled off in Mexico and remains relatively mild in the United States, health officials warned yesterday against complacency, saying it is too soon to rule out more serious consequences.(May 3, 2009)

Health experts gauge flu outbreak (Boston Globe)

As the number of swine flu cases in Mexico wanes and rises, experts are being forced to walk a public health tightrope -- if they push their message too far and the virus fizzles out, they could lose credibility. But if they back off and it suddenly surges, they will be blamed.(May 3, 2009)

Health experts gauge swine flu outbreak (AP via Yahoo! News)

Health experts walked a tightrope Sunday, unsure whether the swine flu epidemic was starting to fizzle out or was just in a lull before another surge. Germany reported two more confirmed cases, and Hong Kong kept 350 people under quarantine in a downtown hotel as a precaution.(May 3, 2009)

Swine flu? Orange health officials still not sure (Orlando Sentinel)

Health officials say they still don't know whether a 14-year-old girl who became ill while visiting Orange County had swine flu.(May 3, 2009)

Health groups in US firing line (The Age)

Efforts by the Obama Administration to restrain the growth in health-care costs as part of its fundamental reforms of the $US2 trillion industry could hit the profitability of Australian companies operating in the United States, according to a Credit Suisse analysis.(May 3, 2009)

Politics play big role in world health decisions (AP via Yahoo! News)

At the U.N. agency spearheading the fight against swine flu, key decisions are based on more than just health issues — politics plays a big role, too.(May 3, 2009)

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's health secretary says the swine flu epidemic in his country "is in its declining phase." Jose Angel Cordova said Sunday that Mexico's swine flu death toll remains at 19, and that the number of confirmed cases has increased slightly, from 473 to 506, including the dead.(May 3, 2009)

Mexico Health Minister: Flu Epidemic In Descent (Nasdaq)

MEXICO CITY -(Dow Jones)- Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said Sunday that the outbreak of a new influenza virus that has killed at least 19 people in Mexico has entered a descent phase, but he warned against relaxing preventive measures.(May 3, 2009)

Pharmacists eye greater health-care role (The New Zealand Herald)

The Government is considering letting pharmacies play a greater role in the health system, as pharmacists call for more responsibility in tending to the sick.(May 3, 2009)

Free health screening for the homeless today in Portland (The Oregonian)

Turns out we all really do love fried food and will keep on indulging in it no matter how much we get lectured about health and wellness.(May 3, 2009)

Philips Said to Have Bought Traxtal, Boosting Health-Care Unit (Bloomberg)

May 3 (Bloomberg) -- Royal Philips Electronics NV , the world’s largest maker of patient-monitoring systems, acquired Traxtal Inc. to expand its health-care business, a person familiar with the matter said.(May 4, 2009)

Health officials in Nova Scotia report two new cases of swine flu (The Canadian Press via Yahoo! Canada News)

HALIFAX, N.S. - The number of swine flu cases in Nova Scotia continued to grow on the weekend as health officials confirmed 17 new cases on Saturday and another two on Sunday, bringing the province's total to 33 - the highest in Canada.(May 4, 2009)